CALIFORNIA 
AGRICULTURAL  EXTENSION  SERVICE 

CIRCULAR  11 

April,  1927 


CAULIFLOWER  PRODUCTION 
IN  CALIFORNIA 

H.  A.  JONES  AND  F.  H.  ERNST 


PUBLISHED  BY 

THE  COLLEGE  OF  AGRICULTURE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 


Cooperative  Extension  work  in  Agriculture  and  Home  Economics,  College  of  Agriculture, 
University  of  California,  and  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture  cooperating.  Dis- 
tributed in  furtherance  of  the  Acts  of  Congress  of  May  8  and  June  30,  1914.  B.  H.  Crocheron, 
Director,  California  Agricultural  Extension  Service. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  PRINTING  OFFICE 

BERKELEY,  CALIFORNIA 

1927 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2011  with  funding  from 

University  of  California,  Davis  Libraries 


http://www.archive.org/details/cauliflowerprodu11jone 


CAULIFLOWER  PRODUCTION  IN  CALIFORNIA 

H.  A.  JONESi  and  F.  H.  EENST2 


FOREWORD 

Cauliflower  is  a  crop  of  economic  importance  in  California.  The 
principal  districts  center  around  the  cities  of  San  Francisco  and 
Los  Angeles.  In  the  southern  part  of  the  State,  the  counties  engaged 
in  cauliflower  production  include  Los  Angeles,  Orange,  San  Diego, 
Ventura,  and  Santa  Barbara.  Of  these,  Los  Angeles  County  is  by  far 
the  heaviest  producer.  In  the  north,  San  Mateo,  San  Francisco,  and 
Alameda  counties  are  the  most  important,  although  Santa  Clara,  San 
Benito,  and  Monterey  counties  produce  rather  large  amounts.  Because 
of  the  high  price  of  land  near  the  large  centers  of  population,  there  has 
been  a  tendency  during  recent  years  to  plant  cauliflower  in  new  districts 
farther  removed.  As  a  consequence,  a  number  of  experimental  plant- 
ings have  been  made  in  different  parts  of  the  State,  especially  along 
the  coast.  It  is  a  natural  thing  to  expect  considerable  shifting  in  the 
production  centers,  therefore,  as  new  and  suitable  areas  are  found 
for  growing  cauliflower. 

Cauliflower  is  not  one  of  the  easiest  crops  to  produce.  It  requires 
close  personal  supervision  and  congenial  climatic  and  soil  conditions. 
As  yet,  the  crop  in  California  has  no  serious  diseases.  A  number  of 
insect  pests,  most  of  which  are  easily  controlled,  sometimes  cause 
damage.  So  far,  the  chief  problem  of  the  cauliflower  grower  has  been 
that  of  acquiring  good  seed.  Since  the  industry  is  a  highly  specialized 
one,  the  individual  who  grows  cauliflower  consistently  year  after  year 
will  find  it  more  profitable,  as  a  rule,  than  one  who  produces  it  inter- 
mittently. 

That  the  California  cauliflower  industry  increased  rapidly  from 
1915  to  1921  was  largely  due  to  improved  transportation  facilities. 
Since  1921,  however,  the  rate  of  increase  has  been  less  marked. 

Most  of  the  cauliflower  grown  for  shipment  is  produced  in  Cali- 
fornia, New  York,  Oregon,  and  Colorado.  New  York  has  always 
grown  a  large  amount  but  only  during  recent  years,  as  may  be  noted  in 
table  1,  have  Oregon  and  Colorado  come  to  the  front.  Since  1922, 
cauliflower  production  has  had  a  great  stimulus  in  Colorado. 


1  Associate  Professor  of   Truck  Crops  and  Plant  Breeder  in  the  Experiment 
Station. 

2  Assistant  in  Agricultural  Extension. 


CALIFORNIA   AGRICULTURAL    EXTENSION    SERVICE 


[CIRC.  11 


SHIPPING  SEASONS 

The  bulk  of  the  California  crop  is  shipped  from  October  to  April, 
inclusive.  Cauliflower  from  northern  California  moves  from  November 
to  March,  while  that  from  the  southern  district  moves  mainly  from 
October  to  May.  Most  of  the  crop  from  the  latter  districts,  however, 
is  shipped  during  November,  December,  January,  and  February. 
That  from  the  Central  District  moves  from  November  to  May  with  the 
greatest  shipments  during  December,  January,  February,  and  March. 


TABLE  1 

Carlot  Shipments  of  Cauliflower  for  the  Different  States  for  the  Years 
1921-1926,  inclusive.     (Bureau  Agricultural  Economics) 


1921 

1922 

1923 

1924 

1925 

1926* 

Total,  all  States 

3,895 

3,391 

4,695 

4,466 

5,280 

6,558 

3,203 
2 
4 
5 

3,137 
4 
1 
3 

3,575 

101 

34 

18 

8 
653 

277 

3,150 

29 

66 

6 

35 

696 

415 

3 

3 

37 
2 

3,850 
191 

3,784 

199 

21 

18 

834 

333 

2 

6 

12 

9 

13 

471 
83 

683 
133 

1,019 

1,436 

Texas                             

15 

Utah 

1 
15 

12 

14 

13 

1 

30 

47 

11 

*  Subject  to  revision. 

The  two  states  competing  with  the  California  product  on  the  eastern 
markets  are  Oregon  and  New  York.  The  Oregon  spring  crop  is 
shipped  during  February,  March,  and  April,  and  its  fall  crop  mainly 
during  October  and  November.  The  New  York  crop  moves  from 
August  to  December,  thus  competing  with  the  fall  shipments  from 
California.  The  markets  of  the  country  are  usually  very  well  supplied 
with  cauliflower  from  September  to  March.  If  districts  able  to  pro- 
duce cauliflower  after  March  could  be  found,  no  doubt  a  ready  market 
would  be  available.  Table  2  gives  the  carlot  shipments  of  Cauliflower, 
by  months,  for  the  entire  United  States ;  table  3  gives  the  same  infor- 
mation for  California. 

These  tables  offer  a  good  indication  also  of  the  shipping  season  for 
the  California  product  as  well  as  of  the  main  producing  seasons  for 
the  entire  country.    In  California,  the  seasons  vary  considerably  from 


1927] 


CAULIFLOWER   PRODUCTION    IN    CALIFORNIA 


year  to  year.  If  the  fall  is  warm  and  moist,  the  crop  usually  starts 
moving  much  earlier  than  when  it  has  been  cold  and  dry.  If  the 
weather  during  mid-  and  late-winter  is  warm,  the  crop  matures  so 
much  more  rapidly  that  fewer  late  shipments  are  made  than  during  a 
cool  spring. 

As  shown  in  table  1,  California  in  1926  shipped  3850  carloads  of 
cauliflower,  5280  being  the  output  for  the  entire  country.  In  other 
words,  70  per  cent  of  the  carlot  shipments  for  that  year  originated  in 
California,  while  in  1925  they  amounted  to  73  per  cent.  These  figures 
do  not  take  into  consideration  the  amount  consumed  locally  or  that 
shipped  in  mixed  cars.  Though  most  of  the  cauliflower  sent  from 
California  goes  in  straight  cars,  a  considerable  quantity  is  also  moved 
in  mixed  cars  to  centers  of  small  consumption. 

TABLE  2 
Carlot  Shipments  of  Cauliflower  by  Months  for  the  United  States,  1921-1926 


Year 

Jan. 

Feb. 

Mar. 

Apr. 

May 

June 

July 

Aug. 

Sept. 

Oct. 

Nov. 

Dec. 

1921 

654 

580 

1,142 

623 

838 
881 

516 
544 
698 
975 
822 
1,094 

782 
1,046 
965 
777 
484 
1,604 

7 
219 
191 
161 
215 
245 

22 
27 
34 
108 
96 
57 

2 
17 
20 
16 

6 
23 

13 
22 
41 
65 
270 
103 

171 

150 
123 
157 
521 
207 

493 
320 
464 
477 
531 
1,005 

631 
283 
621 
621 

479 
825 

604 

1922 

783 

1923 

7 

1 

20 

6 

389 

1924 

485 

1925 

1,006 

1926* 

508 

*  Subject  to  revision.    Data  from  Bureau  of  Agricultural  Economics. 

TABLE  3 

Carlot  Shipments  of  Cauliflower  by  Months  for  California,  1921-1926 


Year 

Jan. 

Feb. 

Mar. 

Apr. 

May 

June 

July 

Aug. 

Sept. 

Oct. 

Nov. 

Dec. 

1921 .... 

649 
580 
1,141 
618 
838 
877 

508 
544 

698 
872 
818 
897 

718 
1,037 
802 
591 
429 
840 

4 

116 

92 

83 

213 

235 

7 

12 
22 
81 
84 
44 

2 
16 
17 
6 
5 

13 
4 
5 

17 
5 
6 

44 
11 
8 
1 
4 
1 

185 
14 
33 
50 

127 
45 

476 
65 
443 
375 
348 
363 

597 

1922 

738 

1923 

7 

307 

1924 

456 

1925 

4 

977 

1926* 

476 

Subject  to  revision.    Data  from  Bureau  of  Agricultural  Economics. 


TEMPERATURE    AND    MOISTURE    REQUIREMENTS 

Cauliflower  develops  best  in  those  areas  where  the  temperature 
during  the  latter  part  of  the  growing  period  is  cool  and  uniform, 
and  where  fairly  moist  conditions  prevail.  For  this  reason,  the  grow- 
ing of  cauliflower  is  mainly  localized  in  those  areas  where  the  climate 


6  CALIFORNIA   AGRICULTURAL    EXTENSION    SERVICE  [ClRC.  11 

is  tempered  by  large  bodies  of  water,  as  in  the  coastal  counties  of 
California  and  Oregon,  and  on  Long  Island.  Extremely  low  tem- 
peratures while  the  plant  is  young  may  cause  it  to  "  button ' '  or  head 
prematurely.  Low  temperatures  delay  maturity,  reduce  the  size,  and 
consequently  lower  the  acre  yield.  Freezing  of  the  curd  or  head 
impairs  the  carrying  quality. 

Hot  weather  during  transplanting  time  may  interfere  with  the 
rapid  establishment  of  the  plants  in  the  field.  If  it  occurs  while  curds 
are  maturing,  it  often  causes  yellowing,  riceyness,  or  fuzziness.  High 
temperatures  appear  also  to  stimulate  growth  of  the  head  leaves,  and 
in  many  cases,  causes  them  to  appear  through  the  top  of  the  curd. 
The  curd  itself  often  grows  so  rapidly  under  these  conditions  that 
harvesting  at  the  best  stage  of  development  is  almost  impossible, 
especially  when  large  acreages  are  being  handled.  Areas  subject  to  cool 
climatic  conditions  usually  suffer  smaller  losses  from  over-maturity. 

Cauliflower  should  always  have  a  sufficient  supply  of  moisture  in 
the  soil  to  insure  a  continuous  and  steady  growth.  It  does  not  thrive 
in  dry  sections,  especially  if  they  are  subject  to  extremes  of  tempera- 
ture or  to  wind  storms.  This  crop  makes  its  best  development  in  a 
moist  atmosphere.  Well  distributed  rainfall  or  carefully  regulated 
irrigations  are  necessary  for  the  successful  production  of  this  crop. 
These  conditions  help  to  produce  maximum  yields,  large  sizes,  and 
good  quality. 

SOIL   REQUIREMENTS 

Cauliflower  can  be  grown  very  successfully  on  a  variety  of  soil 
types.  Generally  speaking,  however,  the  soil  selected  should  be  fertile, 
of  good  physical  condition,  retentive  of  moisture,  and  well  drained. 
Where  a  number  of  different  soil  types  are  available,  the  medium  and 
heavy  soils  should  be  used  for  varieties  that  mature  in  the  fall  and 
spring,  as  they  are  cool  and  retain  moisture  well. 

When  it  is  to  mature  during  the  rainy  season,  the  crop  should  be 
planted  in  sandy  or  silty  soils.  These  are  usually  so  well  drained 
that  harvesting  can  be  done  without  puddling.  Though  such  soils 
produce  good  crops  during  the  rainy  season,  they  make  low  yields 
when  used  for  very  early  or  very  late  plantings.  Soils  of  very  light 
texture  should  be  used  for  cauliflower  production  only  when  they  are 
abundantly  supplied  with  organic  matter,  which  increases  the  water- 
holding  capacity  and  cuts  down  costs  by  decreasing  the  number  of 
irrigations  needed.  In  the  case  of  heavier  soils,  the  presence  of 
organic  matter  facilitates  aeration  and  water  penetration. 


1927] 


CAULIFLOWER   PRODUCTION    IN    CALIFORNIA 


Fig.  1. — Alkali  tolerance  of  cauliflower.     Cauliflower  grows  on  all  but  the 

worst  alkali  spots. 


SEED   BED 

Preparation. — In  most  of  the  commercial  cauliflower-growing  dis- 
tricts of  California,  the  plants  are  started  in  the  open  field.  Where 
possible,  seeding  is  done  in  the  field  on  a  good  sandy  loam  soil,  of 
medium  fertility.  Land  for  the  seed  bed  should  be  leveled  and  irri- 
gated, then  plowed,  and  put  into  a  finely  pulverized  condition. 

The  two  types  of  beds  generally  used  are  the  sunken  or  panel  bed, 
and  the  raised  seed  bed.  Where  the  soil  is  light  and  porous  and  not 
subject  to  packing,  sunken  seed  beds  are  preferable.  The  latter  are 
prepared  in  long  narrow  lands,  12  to  16  feet  wide,  with  small  dikes 
or  levees  on  each  side  to  facilitate  irrigation  by  flooding.  One  acre 
of  land  in  panels  will  probably  accommodate  more  plants  than  the 
same  area  in  raised  seed  beds.  Moreover,  sunken  beds  have  a  minimum 
of  surface  exposed,  and  hence  dry  out  more  slowly  than  raised  beds. 

On  the  heavier  types  of  soil  that  form  a  thick  crust  after  irrigation, 
raised  beds  have  usually  been  found  more  satisfactory,  as  they  facili- 
tate quick  growth.  These  are  similar  to  the  beds  used  for  the  growing 
of  lettuce.     They  are  usually  about  6  inches  high  and  are  approx- 


8 


CALIFORNIA    AGRICULTURAL   EXTENSION    SERVICE 


[CIRC.  11 


imately  18  inches  wide,  with  irrigation  furrows  between.     Each  bed 
has  two  rows  of  plants,  which  are  spaced  10  to  12  inches  apart. 

Twelve  to  15  pounds  of  seed  are  sufficient  to  sow  one  acre  of  seed 
bed.  Experienced  growers  have  found  that  one  acre  is  sufficient  for 
20  to  25  acres  of  field  planting.  A  surplus  of  plants  should  be  grown, 
so  that  only  the  best  and  strongest  ones  need  be  used  for  transplanting. 
Plants  which  have  been  stunted  by  remaining  in  the  seed  bed  too  long 
head  prematurely.  A  chart  of  the  varieties  and  the  dates  of  planting 
in  the  seed  beds  will  help  the  grower  to  avoid  confusion  and  mistakes 
at  time  of  transplanting. 


Fig.  2. — In  the  foreground  is  shown  the  wooden  flume  used  formerly  for  the 
furrow  system  of  irrigation.  The  overhead  system  is  now  being  used  for 
irrigation.     E.  D.  McSweeney  Kanch.     El  Monte,  California. 


Sowing  Seeds. — Seed  should  be  sown  with  a  hand  drill,  sufficiently 
deep  to  be  in  contact  with  moist  soil,  but  not  deep  enough  to  prevent 
the  germinating  seedlings  from  reaching  the  surface.  One-half  to 
three-fourths  of  an  inch  in  depth  is  usually  sufficient.  In  hot  dry 
weather,  the  depth  should  be  greater  than  in  cool  moist  weather.  The 
rows  are  spaced  about  12  inches  apart. 

Planting  Schedule. — In  the  centers  of  commercial  production,  it 
is  very  essential  that  the  different  varieties  and  strains  be  planted  at 
the  proper  time.  Experienced  growers  in  the  Los  Angeles  district 
claim  that  each  variety  has  a  definite  limit  in  planting  dates,  beyond 


1927]  CAULIFLOWER   PRODUCTION   IN    CALIFORNIA  9 

which  favorable  results  can  not  be  secured,  and  that  only  varieties 
which  have  been  developed  for  a  particular  season  of  the  year  should 
be  used.  In  that  district,  Snowball,  an  early  variety,  is  usually  planted 
in  the  seed  bed  during  the  month  of  May.  The  various  strains  of  the 
Pearl  variety  are  seeded  from  May  15  to  August  15.  Some  growers 
make  plantings  every  ten  days,  beginning  with  the  Early  Pearl,  and 
following  this  with  the  Half  Early  Pearl,  the  Late  Pearl,  and  the 
Broccoli.  The  Early  Pearl  is  usually  sown  from  May  15  to  June  15, 
and  the  Half  Early  Pearl  from  June  5  to  July  1,  sowings  in  each 
case  being  made  every  ten  days.  First  sowings  of  the  Late  Pearl 
are  made  about  June  25,  and  late  ones  come  at  ten-day  intervals  up 
to  August  10.  Broccoli  is  usually  seeded  about  July  1,  and  at  intervals 
of  ten  days  up  to  August  15.  In  this  way,  a  succession  of  crops  is 
secured  throughout  the  season,  thus  making  harvesting  a  continuous 
operation  when  once  begun. 

Though  different  growers  vary  this  planting  procedure  somewhat 
to  suit  their  local  conditions,  their  main  object  is  to  have  a  continuous 
harvest  throughout  the  shipping  season.  A  suggested  planting  pro- 
gram, as  worked  out  by  Mr.  J.  N.  Teague  of  Arcadia  for  his  conditions, 
is  given  herewith: 

Early  Pearl .....May    15 

Early  Pearl May    23 

Early  Pearl May    31 

Half  Early  Pearl June  17 

Half  Early  Pearl June  19 

Broccoli June  19 

Half  Early  Pearl June  19 

Broccoli June  30 

Broccoli July   14 

Broccoli July  29 

In  districts  having  an  equable  climate  with  a  mild  winter  and  a 
cool  spring,  Late  Pearl  and  Broccoli  may  be  seeded  as  late  as 
August  20.  In  this  case,  an  extra  late  crop  is  secured,  which  comes 
off  during  April.  In  any  case,  plants  should  be  started  sufficiently 
early  to  reach  a  large  size  before  the  cool  winter  weather  checks  their 
growth. 

In  the  Colma  district,  one  variety  of  cauliflower  and  two  varieties 
of  broccoli  are  grown.  The  cauliflower  grown  in  this  district  is  not 
known  by  any  specific  name,  and  is  seldom  shipped,  most  of  the 
product  being  sold  locally.  The  White  Broccoli  is  sown  during  June 
or  July,  while  the  Black  Broccoli  is  usually  sown  in  early  July. 


10  CALIFORNIA    AGRICULTURAL    EXTENSION    SERVICE  [ClRC.  11 


MANAGEMENT   OF   THE    SEED    BED 

Care  should  be  exercised  to  develop  healthy  stocky  plants.  If  the 
seedlings  are  too  thick  in  the  row,  they  should  be  thinned  to  prevent 
overcrowding.  Under  the  best  soil  and  climatic  conditions,  and  with 
a  well  prepared  seed  bed,  it  may  be  possible  at  times  to  produce  good 
plants  without  the  addition  of  irrigation  water  after  the  seed  has  been 
sown.  The  best  growers  irrigate  only  when  absolutely  necessary.  An 
irrigation  shortly  before  pulling  the  plants  produces  succulent  roots, 
many  of  which  die  during  transplanting.  The  shock  of  transplanting 
is  less  severe  if  the  plants  have  been  deprived  of  water  somewhat  and 
have  been  allowed  to  harden,  than  if  they  are  in  a  tender,  rapidly 
growing  condition.  If  the  soil  is  hard  and  the  plants  can  not  be 
pulled  readily,  the  beds  should  be  irrigated  the  day  preceding  pulling. 
It  is  best  not  to  wet  more  of  the  plant  bed  than  will  be  used  the 
following  day.  However,  if  the  soil  is  loose,  this  irrigation  is  unneces- 
sary. Plants  are  usually  of  sufficient  size  for  transplanting  6  to  9 
weeks  after  seeding,  depending  upon  the  time  of  the  year.  Only  the 
largest  are  removed  at  first.  An  irrigation  should  be  given  imme- 
diately after  the  first  pulling  to  stimulate  the  growth  of  the  remaining 
plants. 

An  effort  should  be  made  to  secure  a  uniform  continuous  growth. 
If  plants  remain  in  the  seed  bed  for  too  long  a  time,  growth  is 
severely  checked  and  premature  heading  is  often  brought  about.  Soil 
which  does  not  hold  water  well  should  be  irrigated  frequently  enough 
to  promote  an  even  and  normal  growth.  Water  should  be  withheld 
about  a  week  or  ten  days  before  pulling.  Usually  only  two  pullings 
should  be  made  from  a  bed. 

In  some  sections,  especially  in  the  northern  and  central  coastal 
regions,  the  cauliflower  and  broccoli  plants  are  started  in  more  or 
less  protected  field  beds,  especially  when  grown  during  the  late  fall, 
winter,  or  early  spring.  In  the  Colma  region,  the  beds  are  usually 
located  on  southern  slopes  where  they  are  well  protected  from  the 
wind.  After  being  well  manured,  they  are  plowed,  then  finely  pulver- 
ized and  seeded.  They  are  then  covered  with  litter  to  prevent  baking 
of  the  soil,  especially  during  the  drier  part  of  the  year.  The  beds 
are  usually  irrigated  by  overhead  sprinklers  with  long  slowly  revolving 
arms,  and  are  thinned  and  kept  well  weeded  and  cultivated.  The 
plants  are  allowed  to  grow  to  a  larger  size  before  transplanting  than 
is  generally  the  custom  in  other  sections. 


1927] 


CAULIFLOWER    PRODUCTION    IN    CALIFORNIA 


11 


PULLING   PLANTS 

A  common  practice  is  to  pull  plants  during  the  fore  part  of  the 
afternoon,  and  then  the  field  having  been  prepared  during  the  morn- 
ing, to  transplant  with  the  same  crew  during  the  remainder  of  the 
day.  The  plants  are  sorted  and  packed  in  lug  boxes,  which  are  kept 
covered  with  moist  burlap  sacks.  Only  as  many  plants  are  pulled  as 
can  be  transplanted  the  same  day.  The  largest  and  stockiest  plants 
are  selected.  If  the  leaves  are  very  large,  they  may  be  trimmed  to 
reduce  the  loss  of  water.  Plants  which  are  well  hardened  need  very 
little,  if  any,  cutting  back  of  the  leaves. 


Fig.  3. — The  above  figure  shows  the  size  of  plants  that  are  used  for  trans- 
planting, also  the  method  of  handling  in  lug  boxes  when  transferring  from 
nursery  to  the  field.     Los  Angeles  County. 


LAYING  OUT  THE   LAND   FOR   IRRIGATION 

Rows  should  be  run  in  such  a  way  as  to  have  enough  fall  to 
facilitate  irrigation  and  surface  drainage.  Light  soils  which  take 
water  very  rapidly  should  be  laid  out  to  give  a  uniform  distribution  of 
water  throughout  the  length  of  the  furrow.  This  may  necessitate  short 
runs  of  200  to  400  feet,  which  generally  give  more  rapid  irrigation. 
The  ditches  and  furrows  should  be  laid  out  in  the  direction  to  give 
the  desired  fall.     If,  however,  the  soil  does  not  absorb  water  readily, 


12  CALIFORNIA   AGRICULTURAL   EXTENSION    SERVICE  [ClEC.  11 

they  should  be  run  in  the  direction  which  will  give  a  minimum  fall, 
in  order  to  get  a  uniform  penetration  of  moisture.  Runs  in  this  case 
may  be  as  long  as  600  feet.  There  should  be  no  waste  water  except  on 
lands  of  very  steep  slopes,  and  that  from  the  higher  levels  should  be 
used  to  irrigate  the  lower.  While  cauliflower  is  commonly  grown  on 
side  hills  in  the  northern  and  central  cauliflower  districts,  steep  grades 
are  undesirable,  especially  in  the  warmer  and  dried  regions  of  the 
state.  In  the  latter  areas,  it  is  very  desirable  that  the  land  be  well 
graded  to  a  moderate  slope  so  that  the  water  can  be  applied  uniformly. 
If  this  is  not  done,  certain  areas  of  the  field  are  flooded  at  the  time  of 
irrigation,  while  others  remain  high  and  dry.  Leveling  should  be  done 
well  in  advance  of  the  planting  season.  If  much  soil  has  been  moved, 
it  is  best  to  make  a  test  irrigation  to  settle  the  soil  and  reveal  the 
depressions  and  elevations.  The  necessary  retouching  can  be  done 
after  the  land  has  become  sufficiently  dry. 

PREPARATION  OF  THE  LAND 

If  cauliflower  follows  beans  in  rotation,  the  land  should  be  chiseled 
as  there  may  not  be  sufficient  time  for  plowing.  This  is  less  expensive, 
requires  less  time,  and  does  not  turn  up  clods. 

Furrows  are  usually  made  with  a  lister.  They  should  be  spaced 
a  uniform  distance  apart  throughout  their  entire  length  to  facilitate 
cultivation.  In  the  application  of  water  for  furrow  irrigation,  head 
ditches  are  commonly  used.  These  should  have  sufficient  capacity  to 
irrigate  adequately  and  quickly. 

PLANTING 

After  the  plants  are  pulled,  every  effort  should  be  made  to  get 
them  into  the  ground  as  soon  as  possible.  They  are  dropped  in  the 
furrows  just  ahead  of  the  person  planting,  and  are  then  set  in  the 
bottom  of  the  furrows  with  short  handled  hoes. 

On  soils  which  are  light  to  medium  in  texture,  planting  in  the 
furrow  bottom  is  especially  desirable ;  on  very  heavy  types,  the  side 
of  the  furrow  is  often  used.  Plants  should  be  set  so  that  they  will 
stand  up,  and  not  be  submerged  with  the  irrigation  water.  Whatever 
replanting  is  necessary,  should  be  done  as  soon  as  possible.  Rows 
should  be  34  to  36  inches  apart  and  plants  about  24  to  30  inches  apart 
in  the  row,  depending  upon  the  variety.  Crowding  should  be  avoided, 
as  it  reduces  the  size  of  the  curd.  The  aim  of  the  grower  should  be 
to  produce  curds  of  a  medium-large  size  (12  to  the  crate),  for  which 
there  is  usually  a  good  demand. 


1927]  CAULIFLOWER   PRODUCTION   IN    CALIFORNIA  13 


Fig.  4. — Plants  set  on  the  side  of  the  ridge. 
IRRIGATION 

If  the  soil  is  dry,  open,  and  porous,  it  may  take  a  long  time  to  get 
the  water  through,  and  the  plants  may  suffer  as  a  consequence. 
Under  these  conditions,  a  preliminary  irrigation  may  be  given  before 
transplanting.  When  dry  soil  is  used,  it  is  very  desirable  to  have 
the  water  applied  almost  immediately  after  the  plants  have  been 
set.  Where  the  rows  are  long,  the  water  may  be  started  as  soon  as  the 
planter  has  set  twenty-five  to  fifty  plants  and  may  be  allowed  to  follow 
slowly  down  the  row  so  as  to  prevent  any  excessive  drying  out  or 
wilting. 

During  the  summer  and  early  fall,  the  plants  are  making  a  rapid 
growth  and,  therefore,  require  considerable  moisture.  Some  growers 
in  the  southern  cauliflower  districts  count  on  about  five  irrigations 
during  the  season.  The  number  needed,  however,  varies  with  the 
different  types  of  soil  and  with  weather  conditions.  While  cauliflower 
is  naturally  a  shallow-rooted  plant,  surface  rooting  should  not  be 
encouraged  by  frequent  light  irrigations,  especially  during  the  early 
life  of  the  plant.  During  the  winter,  rains  may  occur,  but  these  should 
not  be  depended  upon  unless  they  are  thorough  enough  to  make  an 
irrigation  unnecessary.  The  chief  object  should  be  to  keep  the  soil 
sufficiently  moist  to  a  depth  of  3  or  4  feet  throughout  the  life  of  the 
plant  to  secure  a  uniform  and  steady  growth. 

The  number  of  furrows  irrigated  at  one  time  depends  upon  the 
method  of  irrigations,  the  head  of  water,  and  the  soil  type.  If  the 
furrows  have  a  pronounced  fall,  the  water  may  be  run  in  small  streams. 
The  operator  may  gauge  the  penetration  of  the  soil  moisture  very 


14 


CALIFORNIA    AGRICULTURAL   EXTENSION    SERVICE  [ClRC.  11 


easily  and  accurately  by  means  of  a  soil  auger.  The  amount  of  water, 
or  size  of  head  used,  should  be  gauged  so  that  the  water  will  reach 
the  end  of  the  furrow  without  too  much  waste. 

Much  interest  is  being  shown  in  overhead  irrigation.  This  method 
accomplishes  a  number  of  things  not  possible  with  furrow  irrigation. 
It  moistens  all  of  the  soil  uniformly,  reduces  aphis  damage  to  a  mini- 
mum, and  seems  to  produce  a  uniform  and  steady  growth. 


Fig.  5. — The  photograph  above  was  taken  three  days  after  planting  and 
irrigating.     Note  how  the  plants  have  been  revived. 


The  experimental  sprinkler  system  on  the  E.  D.  McSweeny  ranch, 
at  El  Monte,  is  capable  of  throwing  about  one  acre-inch  every  twelve 
hours.  Each  unit  is  about  400  feet  long  and  %  acre  in  size.  A 
comparison  of  cauliflower  plots  which  had  been  furrow-irrigated  with 
those  which  had  been  sprinkled  showed  the  latter  to  be  considerably 
more  vigorous  and  thrifty  in  growth.  Whether  the  yields  are  increased 
sufficiently  to  justify  the  installation  of  a  sprinkler  system  is  very 
problematical,  especially  when  large  acreages  of  cauliflower  are  grown. 
Overhead  irrigation,  however,  should  prove  especially  advantageous  on 
hillsides,  wThere  satisfactory  furrow  irrigation  is  difficult.3 

3  Directions  for  installation  of  overhead  irrigation  are  given  in  Wadsworth, 
H.  A.  Irrigation  by  overhead  sprinkling.  California  Agr.  Ext.  Serv.  Cir.  4.  37  p. 
12  fig.     1926. 


1927]  CAULIFLOWER   PRODUCTION    IN    CALIFORNIA  15 


CULTIVATION 

Cultivation  usually  follows  each  irrigation  except,  possibly,  the 
last  two  or  three.  About  five  cultivations  are  required  during  the 
season.  If  it  is  possible  to  perform  these  at  the  proper  time,  hoeing 
is  reduced  to  a  minimum  and  may  be  entirely  unnecessary.  When 
the  furrows  are  filled,  the  weeds  are  covered  and  killed.  Cultivation 
and  preparation  for  irrigation  are  usually  accomplished  in  one  opera- 
tion by  attaching  a  large  shovel  at  the  rear  of  the  cultivator.  During 
the  later  stages  of  growth,  cultivation  should  be  shallow,  so  as  not  to 
destroy  any  of  the  surface  roots.  The  last  cultivation  levels  the  soil 
between  the  rows  and  gives  a  smooth  surface,  thus  making  harvesting 
much  easier. 


SOIL   IMPROVEMENT 

The  soil  must  be  sufficiently  fertile  to  produce  a  plant  of  good  size. 
A  large  curd  can  not  be  obtained  from  a  small  plant.  The  plant  food 
elements  should  be  present  in  available  form  and  in  sufficient  amount 
to  give  a  continuous  growth.  While  phosphorus,  potash,  and  other 
plant  food  elements  are  necessary,  the  one  most  generally  needed  is 
nitrogen. 

Crop  Rotation. — It  is  always  advisable  to  carry  on  some  type  of 
crop  rotation.  Cauliflower  diseases  as  well  as  insects  accumulate  in 
the  soil  and  infect  and  injure  in  increasig  amount  the  succeeding 
crops.  Planting  cauliflower  continuously  on  the  same  land,  therefore, 
is  undesirable.  In  southern  California,  it  is  usually  grown  as  a  fall 
and  winter  crop,  following  spring  and  summer  crops.  It  is  also  often 
grown  in  rotation  with  early  potatoes,  sweet  corn,  early  tomatoes  and 
spring  lettuce,  less  often  with  beans  and  carrots.  Alfalfa  is  frequently 
used  in  a  long  rotation. 

Intercropping. — In  Los  Angeles  County,  some  cauliflower  is  grown 
as  an  intercrop  among  deciduous  fruit  and  English  walnut  trees.  If 
the  trees  are  large,  the  cauliflower  crop  can  be  planted  so  as  to  have 
the  maximum  growth  period  at  a  time  when  the  trees  are  bare. 
Extreme  shading  will  not  then  occur. 

Manuring. — There  is  considerable  difference  of  opinion  among 
growers  as  to  the  value  of  the  various  fertilizers.  Many  of  the  more 
successful  growers  have  large  supplies  of  barnyard  manure  available. 


16  CALIFORNIA   AGRICULTURAL   EXTENSION    SERVICE  [ClRC.  11 

Cauliflower  fits  in  well  with  dairying;  and  an  abundant  supply  of 
manure  may  thus  be  obtained.  Where  livestock  is  kept  on  the  same 
farm,  the  task  of  maintaining  the  soil  in  a  highly  productive  condition 
is  not  a  difficult  one.  Ten  to  twenty  tons  of  manure  may  be  considered 
a  good  annual  application.  If  fresh  manure  is  used,  it  should  be 
applied  and  disked  or  plowed  under  in  time  to  allow  it  partially  to 
decompose  before  the  crop  is  planted.  Besides  supplying  plant  food, 
it  increases  the  organic  matter  in  the  soil. 

Green  Manure  Crops. — If  manure  can  not  be  obtained  in  sufficient 
amount  to  supply  the  needed  organic  matter  and  plant  food,  green 
manure  crops  alone  or  with  commercial  fertilizer  may  be  used.  The 
cover  crop  or  green  manure  crop,  preferably  a  legume,  chosen  should 
be  adapted  to  the  local  climatic  conditions  and  should  produce  a  good 
tonnage  of  vegetable  matter.  It  is  better  to  grow  green  manure  crops 
to  plow  under,  rather  than  to  allow  the  fields  to  lie  idle  during  a  part 
of  the  year.  Such  crops  keep  down  weeds  and  help  conserve  the 
soluble  mineral  elements  of  the  soil,  especially  in  regions  of  heavy 
winter  rainfall.  They  prevent  erosion,  help  aerate  the  subsoil,  and 
increase  the  favorable  bacterial  flora  of  the  soil.  By  the  addition  of 
organic  matter,  the  texture  of  heavy  soils  is  improved  and  the  mois- 
ture-holding capacity  of  the  sandy  ones  is  increased.  Where  nematodes 
are  prevalent,  crops  or  varieties  resistant  to  their  attack  should  be 
grown. 

Cowpeas  and  Taredo  soybeans  are  good  green  manure  crops  to 
grow  during  the  summer  where  temperatures  are  moderately  high. 
Many  of  the  best  growers  plant  such  crops  at  least  once  every  two 
years.  Melilotus  indica  and  purple  vetch  are  common  ones  used.  The 
former  is  probably  the  more  popular.  It  may  be  seeded  when  the 
cauliflower  is  disked  up  and  then  plowed  under  when  again  preparing 
for  cauliflower.  By  doing  this  the  only  expense  for  cover  cropping  is 
the  seed  and  the  water. 

Commercial  Fertilizer. — In  certain  cauliflower  sections,  the  high 
price  of  land  prohibits  the  planting  of  green  manure  crops,  and  the 
productivity  of  the  soil,  therefore,  must  be  maintained  largely  by  the 
use  of  commercial  fertilizers.  The  three  constituents  supplied  in  a 
complete  fertilizer  are  nitrogen,  phosphorus,  and  potash.  Any  of 
these  may  be  supplied  in  the  organic  or  inorganic  form.  In  the  latter 
form,  the  elements  are  immediately  available  to  the  plant,  while  in  the 
former,  the  complex  compounds  must  undergo  decomposition  into 
more  simple  forms  before  they  can  be  absorbed  by  the  plant.  This 
decomposition  or  change  is  effected  by  different  bacterial  groups  in 


192  7]  CAULIFLOWER   PRODUCTION   IN    CALIFORNIA  17 

the  soil.  When  the  temperature  of  the  soil  is  low,  these  bacteria 
function  slowly  or  not  at  all,  so  it  is  better,  during  the  cooler  seasons 
at  least,  to  apply  a  part  of  the  fertilizers  in  the  inorganic  form. 

It  is  impossible  to  specify  a  single  kind  or  a  uniform  rate  of 
application  of  fertilizer  for  the  entire  state  or  for  any  large  district 
within  the  state.  It  is  best  for  each  grower  to  make  a  number  of 
tests  on  his  own  farm  to  determine  the  kind  to  use  and  the  most 
profitable  amount  to  apply.  In  general,  growers  have  found  that  it 
is  the  lack  of  nitrogen  which  limits  the  growth  of  the  cauliflower  plant. 
Nitrogenous  fertilizers,  therefore,  usually  give  the  greatest  growth 
response.  Nitrogen  can  be  supplied  in  the  inorganic  form  as  nitrate 
of  soda  or  sulphate  of  ammonia.  Tankage,  fish  meal,  cottonseed  meal, 
dried  blood,  and  other  compounds  can  be  used  to  supply  the  organic 
form.  An  application  of  about  70  to  80  pounds  of  nitrogen  to  the 
acre  before  planting  should  give  good  results.  About  half  of  this 
should  be  applied  in  the  organic  and  half  in  the  inorganic  form.  If 
the  plants  are  making  a  slow  growth  or  if  they  appear  yellowish  green, 
a  side  dressing  of  100  to  150  pounds  of  nitrate  of  soda  or  sulphate  of 
ammonia  to  the  acre  usually  cause  a  quickening  of  the  growth  rate 
and  a  darkening  of  the  leaves. 


BLANCHING 

The  market  demand  is  for  a  pure  white  curd.  Varieties  such  as 
Snowball  have  a  small  amount  of  foliage,  which  neither  covers  the 
curd  nor  protects  it  from  the  sun  and  weather.  To  prevent  discolor- 
ation, it  is  necessary,  therefore,  to  gather  together  and  tie  the  outside 
leaves  over  the  head.  Breaking  the  leaves  over  the  head,  a  method 
sometimes  used,  is  unsatisfactory,  as  the  wind  is  likely  to  displace 
them.  Moreover,  if  they  decay,  a  yellowing  of  the  curd  results.  "When 
the  curd  is  small,  it  is  well  protected  by  the  small  inner  incurving 
leaves.  As  it  increases  in  size,  the  leaves  gradually  lift,  thus  exposing 
the  curd.  To  prevent  discoloration,  the  outer  leaves  must  be  gathered 
together  and  tied  while  the  small  inner  leaves  still  protect  the  head. 

The  length  of  time  necessary  for  the  development  of  the  curds 
to  a  marketable  condition  after  tying  depends  chiefly  upon  the  tem- 
perature. During  warm  weather  they  may  be  ready  for  harvest 
within  two  or  three  days,  but  during  the  cooler  part  of  the  year,  as 
long  as  two  weeks  may  be  required.  All  varieties  of  broccoli  and 
some  varieties  of  cauliflower  are  sufficiently  protected  until  the  curds 
are  ready  for  harvest  and,  therefore,  need  not  be  tied.  By  far  the 
greater  part  of  the  California  crop  is  composed  of  the  latter  type. 


18 


CALIFORNIA   AGRICULTURAL    EXTENSION    SERVICE 


[CIRC.  11 


HARVESTING 

Every  few  days  after  the  crop  begins  to  mature,  all  heads  in  the 
proper  stage  of  development  are  cut,  trimmed,  and  hauled  in  a  high- 
wheeled  cart  to  the  ends  of  the  rows,  where  they  are  transferred  to 
wagons  or  trucks  to  be  hauled  to  the  packing  shed.  The  axles  of  the 
cauliflower  cart  are  bent,  thus  elevating  the  bed  so  that  it  clears  the 
top  of  the  standing  plants.  This  bed  works  on  a  hinge  to  facilitate 
the  unloading.  Four  or  five  such  carts  are  usually  required  for  a  field 
of  sixty  acres. 


-m. 


Fig.  6. — Small  two-wheeled  carts  are  pulled  through  the  field  into  which  the 
cauliflower  heads  are  thrown.  The  heads  are  then  transferred  to  wagons  or 
trucks  at  the  end  of  the  field,  and  hauled  to  the  packing  shed. 


The  cauliflower  head  with  the  jacket  leaves  attached  is  severed 
from  the  plant  with  a  large  knife.  A  sufficient  number  of  these  jacket 
leaves  are  left  on  to  give  good  protection.  Many  growers  cut  the 
stem  to  the  desired  length  in  the  field  so  that  it  needs  no  further 
trimming  at  the  time  of  packing.  The  tips  of  the  leaves  may  be  cut 
back  at  the  time  of  harvest  or  may  be  left  intact  until  the  crate  is 
packed. 

It  is  imperative  that  the  heads  be  cut  while  they  are  still  compact. 
It  is  a  common  error  to  allow  the  head  to  get  past  its  prime  before 


1927] 


CAULIFLOWER   PRODUCTION    IN    CALIFORNIA 


19 


cutting.  There  is  very  little  danger  of  cutting  the  heads  before  they 
have  made  the  proper  size.  If  the  plants  have  not  made  good  growth, 
the  heads  will  not  grow  large,  regardless  of  the  length  of  time  they 
remain  in  the  field.  It  is  generally  considered  a  better  policy  to 
disregard  the  size  feature  at  the  time  of  harvest  and  consider  only  the 
stage  of  maturity. 


Fig.  7. — Cauliflower  head  ready  for  market.     The  figure  shows  outside  leaves 
trimmed  off  and  the  inner  leaves  left  as  a  jacket  to  protect  the  edible  parts. 


One  should  always  picture  the  appearance  of  the  head  at  the  time 
of  arrival  at  market.  Appearance  is  an  important  factor  in  the  sale 
of  any  commodity,  and  even  one  over-mature  head  in  a  crate  may 
spoil  the  appearance  of  the  entire  lot.  Over-mature  heads  are  very 
conspicuous  because  the  advanced  growth  spreads  the  leaves  and 
exposes  the  curd.  Young  ones  are  more  concealed  in  their  jacket 
leaves  and,  therefore,  attract  less  attention. 


20 


CALIFORNIA   AGRICULTURAL   EXTENSION    SERVICE 


[CIRC.  11 


Since  cauliflower  matures  very  rapidly  in  warm,  rainy  weather, 
a  large  portion  of  the  crop  may  be  lost  unless  additional  labor  is 
provided  during  these  periods.  If  a  part  of  the  field  has  become 
over-mature,  it  is  best  to  accept  the  loss  and  continue  to  cut  only  the 
desirable  heads  rather  than  to  attempt  to  harvest  those  that  have 
passed  their  best  marketable  condition.  Occasionally  during  a  rush 
period,  the  cauliflower  heads  are  cut  and  left  inverted  in  the  field 
for  a  short  time.  This  checks  the  growth  and  prevents  losses  that 
might  otherwise  occur. 


Fig.  8. — Another  view  showing  the  ideal  condition  for  cutting.  This  figure, 
also,  illustrates  how  the  inner  incurving  leaves  of  some  varieties  protect  the 
developing  curd  from  the  sun  and  frost  and  keep  it  pure  white  in  color. 


GRADING 

As  has  just  been  stated,  the  chief  aim  of  the  California  grower 
should  be  to  place  a  product  of  high  quality  on  the  market.  The 
permanent  success  of  the  California  cauliflower  industry  depends  upon 
sending  to  the  eastern  markets  a  product  rigidly  graded  and  highly 
standardized.  The  inherent  characteristics  of  cauliflower  apparently 
make  this  vegetable  more  subject  to  transit  deterioration  than  is  the 
case  with  other  vegetable  crops  shipped  from  California.  Since  much 
of  the  cauliflower  shipped  from  California  is  sold  on  consignment,  the 
price  received  is  determined  entirely  by  the  appearance  and  quality 
of  the  pack.  In  many  cases,  growers  suffer  large  differentials  because 
one  or  two  heads  of  poor  quality  are  present  in  the  inspected  crates. 
At  the  present  time,  there  is  a  good  demand  for  cauliflower  of  high 
quality,  but  there  is  almost  no  market  for  poor  stock. 


1927 ]  CAULIFLOWER   PRODUCTION   IN    CALIFORNIA  21 

Over-maturity. — The  stage  of  development  of  the  head  affects  very 
markedly  its  carrying  qualities.  The  longer  the  heads  are  left  in  the 
fields  after  they  are  ready  to  cut,  the  more  wilted  they  appear  when 
they  reach  the  market.  If  the  curd  has  begun  to*  separate,  as  shown 
in  figures  9  and  10,  it  deteriorates  much  faster  than  one  compact  at 
the  time  of  cutting.  If  the  heads  are  spread,  they  reach  the  eastern 
markets  in  an  almost  unsalable  condition.  Every  effort,  therefore, 
should  be  made  at  the  time  of  cutting  and  again  at  the  time  of  packing 
to  discard  all  heads  that  are  slightly  spread,  for  this  condition  is 
usually  much  more  pronounced  by  the  time  they  reach  their  desti- 
nation. 


Fig.  9. — Cauliflower  head  very  much  over-mature.     Curds  of  this  age  should 

not  be  harvested. 

"Riciness." — A  condition  known  as  riciness  is  caused  by  the  elon- 
gation of  the  ultimate  branches.  The  head  then  becomes  granular  in 
appearance,  as  shown  in  figure  11,  and  is  less  compact  than  it  should 
be.  Although  a  ricey  head  is  not  as  objectionable  as  one  which  is  badly 
spread,  it  suffers  some  differential  in  price  on  the  market.  Riciness 
may  be  largely  overcome  by  the  selection  of  seed  of  good  quality  and 
by  growing  the  crop  under  the  most  favorable  climatic  conditions.  It 
is  usually  more  likely  to  occur  when  the  crop  matures  during  excep- 
tionally warm  dry  weather.  It  may  also  be  brought  about  at  times  by 
allowing  the  heads  to  become  slightly  over-mature.  However,  heads 
may  become  badly  spread  without  showing  any  signs  of  riciness. 


22 


CALIFORNIA   AGRICULTURAL    EXTENSION    SERVICE 


[ClRC.  11 


COMPACT 


SLIGHTLY    SPREAD 


BADLY    SPREAD 


Fig.  10. — The  heads  should  arrive  at  destination  in  a  solid  condition,  as 
shown  by  the  compact  head  above.  If  the  heads  are  cut  and  packed  when  only 
slightly  over-mature,  they  spread  considerably  more  before  they  reach  the 
eastern  markets  and  appear  as  the  heads  labelled  "slightly  spread"  and 
"badly  spread."  The  heads  pictured  are  neither  ricey  nor  fuzzy,  but  the 
badly  spread  and  loose  condition  is  especially  objectionable. 


1927] 


CAULIFLOWER   PRODUCTION   IN    CALIFORNIA 


23 


"Fuzzi'Thess." — When  the  individual  flower  stems  or  pedicels  elon- 
gate, the  head  assumes  a  velvety  or  fuzzy  appearance  such  as  that 
shown  in  figure  12.  The  entire  head  or  only  a  small  portion  of  it  may 
be  so  affected.  Some  varieties  are  more  predisposed  than  others  to 
fuzziness.  This  condition  is  usually  brought  about  by  adverse  growing 
conditions,  sometimes  by  slight  over-maturity  of  the  heads.  It  can  be 
overcome  to  a  great  extent  by  observing  the  same  precautions  as  for 
riciness. 


Fig.  11. — Bicey  head  of  cauliflower.     (New  Jersey  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bui.  432.) 


Leafy  Curds. — Leafy  curds  are  those  which  have  small  green 
leaves  appearing  between  the  segments.  Curds  of  this  type  are  unde- 
sirable, and  if  possessing  many  leaflets,  should  be  discarded.  This 
condition  is  usually  due  to  seed  of  poor  quality. 

Small  Sizes. — Small  sizes  usually  mean  a  lower  price  to  the  crate 
as  well  as  fewer  crates  to  the  acre.  Usually,  small  sizes  are  the  result 
of  growing  the  crop  on  unproductive  soil,  or  of  getting  the  plants 
started  too  late  in  the  fall.  For  winter  and  early  spring  crops,  the 
plants  should  be  set  in  the  field  in  time  to  secure  a  good  growth 
before  cold  weather. 


24  CALIFORNIA   AGRICULTURAL   EXTENSION    SERVICE  [ClRC.  11 

Color  of  Leaves. — When  the  heads  reach  the  eastern  markets,  the 
jacket  leaves  should  be  green — not  yellow  in  color.  If  subject  to  high 
temperature  after  cutting,  they  will  turn  yellow  and  drop  during 
transit  or  after  reaching  destination. 


W  / 

••"'i 

£V-                        I  •      •     1 

f   ^       t£  'J 

l|fa:             '        /^ 

#       ,»'■■#*'      v    ,#^  *     .  .^™ 

M  iC  - 

V        v" 

mr 

j. 

Fig.  12. — A  fuzzy  head  of  cauliflower.  The  pedicels  or  stalks  of  the  indi- 
vidual flowers  have  started  to  elongate.  This  condition  may  accompany  over- 
maturity  but  is  usually  prevalent  when  the  crop  has  been  grown  under  unfavorable 
climatic  conditions. 

Discoloration  of  Curd. — Curds  which  are  exposed  to  the  sun 
develop  a  brown  pigment  that  is  very  objectionable.  Varieties  such 
as  Snowball  should  have  the  leaves  well  tied  over  the  head  to  prevent 
discoloration.  If  the  plants  are  not  to  be  tied,  only  those  varieties 
and  strains  should  be  grown  which  have  their  heads  naturally  well 


1927] 


CAULIFLOWER   PRODUCTION   IN    CALIFORNIA 


25 


protected.  The  surface  of  the  curd  becomes  discolored  also  if  bruised. 
If  possible,  the  curd  should  not  be  touched  during  the  harvesting  and 
packing  operations. 

Insect  Injury. — Occasionally  worm  injury  reduces  the  salability 
of  the  product.  Heads  having  a  large  portion  of  the  leaf  blades  eaten 
or  having  deposits  of  green  excrement  in  the  white  curd  present  a  poor 
appearance  on  the  market.  The  presence  of  aphis  on  the  leaves  at  the 
time  of  packing  is  also  objectionable,  for  during  transit  they  may 
migrate  to  the  surface  and  between  the  branches  of  the  curd. 


Fig.  13. — Leafy  head.  Heads  which  have  a  considerable  number  of  small 
leaves  appearing  between  the  segments  of  the  head  as  shown  above  should 
be  discarded. 


STANDARDIZATION  AND  PACKING 

As  the  grades  for  cauliflower  are  subject  to  change  without  notice, 
they  are  not  given  here.  They  can  be  obtained  from  the  State 
Department  of  Agriculture  at  Saermento  or  from  the  Bureau  of 
Agricultural  Economics,  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture, 
Washington,  D.C. 

The  standardized  pack,  which  most  buyers  prefer,  can  be  made  up 
better  at  the  central  packing  houses  where  skilled  men  do  the  sorting 
than  on  the  individual  ranches. 

Cauliflower  is  packed  mainly  in  pony  crates  or  flats,  with  only  one 
layer  of  heads  in  a  container.    The  heads  are  set  erect  in  the  crate,  as 


26 


CALIFORNIA   AGRICULTURAL   EXTENSION    SERVICE 


[ClRC.  11 


shown  in  figure  14;  the  foliage  is  trimmed  to  a  bulge  of  iy2  to  2 
inches,  and  then  three  narrow  slats  are  nailed  across  the  top.  The 
crates  are  inverted  in  the  car  so  that  the  melting  ice  water  will  trickle 
down  over  the  leaves  rather  than  collect  in  the  heads. 


Fig.  14. — After  packing  the  leaves  are  trimmed  to  a  bulge  of  about  1%  inches. 
The  top  slats  are  then  nailed  on. 


LOADING 

The  main  system  now  used  in  the  loading  of  cars  is  known  as  the 
pigeon-hole  method.  By  this  method,  480  pony  crates  are  placed  in  a 
car.  As  shown  in  figure  15,  the  third  and  fifth  layers  from  the  bottom 
are  only  4  crates  wide ;  between  the  crates  of  these  layers  are  placed 
chunks  of  ice  weighing  from  10  to  20  pounds  each.  Strips  of  wood 
are  nailed  to  the  crates  to  prevent  movement  in  the  car.    Ice  is  then 


1927] 


CAULIFLOWER   PRODUCTION   IN    CALIFORNIA 


27 


placed  between  the  crates,  on  top  of  the  load,  and  in  the  bunkers.  The 
ice  on  top  of  the  crates  is  usually  left  in  large  blocks  weighing  30  to  40 
pounds.  The  amount  of  ice  used  at  time  of  loading  varies  with  the 
season  of  the  year.  As  a  rule,  the  product  reaches  the  eastern  market 
in  a  better  condition  when  the  pigeon  hole  method  of  loading  is  used 
than  when  the  shipments  are  made  "  sold-pack. ' ' 


Fig.  15. — Pigeon-hole  method  of  loading.  Crates  are  inverted  to  prevent 
collection  of  water  in  the  head.  Blocks  of  ice  are  placed  in  the  tunnels,  on 
top  of  the  load  and  also  in  the  bunkers.  A  car  loaded  as  above  holds  480 
pony  crates. 

SEED    GROWING 

As  a  general  thing,  the  production  of  seed  by  the  average  grower 
is  not  to  be  recommended,  because  of  the  insufficient  care  used  in  the 
selection  of  seed  stock  and  in  rogueing  out  the  undesirable  plants. 
Although  a  considerable  amount  has  always  been  produced  by  the 
commercial  growers  of  California,  so  far  as  is  known,  no  one  has  made 
a  special  effort  to  improve  the  stock.  As  a  result,  in  those  regions 
where  cauliflower  is  an  important  commercial  crop,  opportunity  awaits 
anyone  who  will  make  a  specialty  of  breeding  strains  of  higher  quality 
and  greater  uniformity. 

Some  growers  producing  seed  reserve  several  well  rogued  rows  on 
one  side  of  the  field  for  seed  purposes.     Only  the  best  curds  in  these 


28 


CALIFORNIA    AGRICULTURAL   EXTENSION    SERVICE 


[ClBC.  11 


rows  are  allowed  to  develop.  When  this  method  is  followed,  selected 
plants  only  should  be  permitted  to  come  into  bloom.  Often  neighbor- 
ing plants  too  poor  to  cut  for  market  are  unintentionally  allowed  to 
bloom.  These  cross  readily  with  the  selected  plants,  and  the  progeny 
are  usually  worthless.  Fields  which  are  being  grown  for  seed  should 
be  at  least  one-half  mile  apart.  Since  the  flowers  are  mostly  insect 
pollinated,  the  greater  the  distance  between  fields,  the  less  the  danger 
of  cross  pollination.  Since  cauliflower  and  all  varieties  of  cabbage, 
kale,  Brussels  sprouts,  and  kohl  rabi  cross  freely,  these  crops  should 
not  be  grown  in  close  proximity  for  seed  purposes. 


'"' 


Fig.  16. — Solid  pack.  The  car  when  loaded  holds  500  pony  crates.  There 
are  five  tiers  the  width  of  the  car.  Two  tiers  at  each  end  have  7  layers  and 
the  remaining  12  tiers  have  6  layers  of  crates.    Ice  is  placed  on  top  of  the  load. 


It  is  sometimes  necessary  to  cover  the  maturing  plants  with  mos- 
quito nettiDg,  as  shown  in  figure  18,  so  that  the  birds  can  not  break 
open  the  pods  and  eat  the  seed.  When  the  pods  are  brown  in  color, 
the  plants  are  cut  and  laid  on  large  canvas  sheets  to  dry.  In  two  or 
three  weeks,  the  seeds  can  be  rolled  with  a  large  iron  or  wooden  roller 
or  threshed  out  with  a  flail.  The  seed  is  then  cleaned  and  placed  in 
burlap  sacks.  These  sacks  are  only  partially  filled  so  that  they  may  be 
turned  every  day  for  about  two  weeks  and  the  seed  cured  thoroughly. 

The  best  means  of  obtaining  good  seed  is  to  select  a  few  of  the 
most  desirable  plants  in  the  field  and  cage  them  to  prevent  cross 


1927] 


CAULIFLOWER   PRODUCTION   IN    CALIFORNIA 


29 


pollination.  A  cage  of  considerable  size  is  necessary.  One  measuring 
about  four  feet  each  way  should  be  satisfactory.  The  frame  should 
be  made  of  wood  and  the  covering  of  muslin  should  be  of  sufficiently 
fine  mesh  to  keep  out  insects.  It  is  best  to  have  the  sides  of  the  cage 
held  together  by  screws  rather  than  nails.     The  screws  can  be  taken 


■   v    ■" v         '                -.''^TiB 

It                \4  J^fl     PS 

W       ";           -  Iftfl  ill 

i*"  -  :'  -  •  \  'IPWLii 

BBb          '  fflfeim 

BnL»    kwmM 

8L          ^pP"a 

B   *'              b 

pp                 sf^^ 

b^  I 

■R                                        '"•Iff      M^L 

*^*fcfc, 

:    #B  B      v  <s^    WB  Hi 

k '^tmi^BM^^BBMBmsSSBBKEMK^K  "    ^r           Jk  it^fe 

Fig.  17. — If  the  temperature  of  the  car  is  high  during  transit,  the  cauli- 
flower heads  continue  to  grow  and  at  times  may  push  their  branches  through 
the  crates.  The  head  pictured  above  made  considerable  growth  because  of  the 
high  temperatures  during  transit. 


out  without  breaking  the  boards  and  the  cages  stored  in  the  knock- 
down form.  The  conditions  within  the  cages  are  usually  ideal  for 
aphis  attack,  and  if  no  precautions  are  taken,  the  plants  may  be 
entirely  destroyed.  Before  being  enclosed,  the  plant  should  be  well 
sprayed  or  dusted  to  kill  the  aphis.  If  25  or  30  ladybird  beetles  are 
then  caged  with  each  plant,  there  is  little  danger  of  aphis  trouble. 


30 


CALIFORNIA    AGRICULTURAL   EXTENSION    SERVICE 


[CIRC.  11 


If  a  few  flies  or  other  insects  are  enclosed  within  the  cage,  pollina- 
tion is  usually  facilitated.  A  few  insects  of  various  species  always 
hatch  within  the  cage  after  the  plant  is  enclosed. 

The  seed  from  each  caged  plant  should  be  harvested  separately 
and  the  selections  planted  side  by  side  in  parallel  rows,  where  they 
can  be  compared.  It  is  best  to  keep  only  one  of  the  progeny  lots ;  the 
remainder  of  the  lots  should  be  harvested  and  sent  to  market.  A 
number  of  the  best  plants  within  the  selected  lots  should  be  enclosed 


Fig.  18. — After  the  seed  has  been  set,  it  is  necessary  in  some  localities  to 
cover  the  plants  with  mosquito  netting  for  protection  from  the  birds.  This  is 
especially  advisable  where  only  a  few  plants  of  extra  good  stock  have  been 
seeded. 


again  and  the  remainder  of  the  lot  left  to  open-pollinate  and  produce 
seed  for  the  commercial  crop  the  following  year.  By  following  this 
system,  for  a  number  of  years,  one  should  secure  gradual  improvement 
in  uniformity  and  quality. 


INSECTS 


Cabbage  Aphis. — A  pest  attacking  the  cauliflower  plant  very 
seriously  at  times  is  the  cabbage  aphis.  It  is  present  in  all  parts  of 
the  United  States  and  is  found  living  upon  the  wild  and  cultivated 


1927J  CAULIFLOWER    PRODUCTION    IN    CALIFORNIA  31 

members  of  the  mustard  family.  These  aphis  have  a  whitish,  mealy 
color.  They  are  usually  found  on  the  under  side  of  the  older  leaves 
and  on  the  young  succulent  inner  leaves.  When  the  colonies  appear  on 
the  edges  of  the  leaf,  they  cause  it  to  curl  inward.  They  can  often 
be  detected  by  the  appearance  of  yellowish  spots  on  the  leaves  where 
the  tissue  has  been  injured.  They  lower  the  vitality  of  the  plant  by 
sucking  out  the  juice.  The  cabbage  aphis  is  kept  under  control  to  a 
certain  extent  by  numerous  parasitic  enemies,  which  become  most 
active  as  the  weather  becomes  warm,  and  also  by  preclaceous  insects 
such  as  the  ladybird  beetles,  and  larvae  and  syrphus  fly  larvae.  Hard 
driving  rains  also  destroy  many  of  these  aphis. 

Control  Methods. — A  good  liquid  spray  for  the  control  of  cabbage 
aphis  is  made  up  of  the  following : 

Nicotine  sulphate  (40  per  cent) 1  pint 

Fish  oil  soap 5  pounds 

Water 100  gallons 

As  a  general  thing,  it  is  rather  difficult  under  field  conditions  to 
obtain  a  perfect  kill  with  any  liquid  spray,  because  of  the  protection 
afforded  by  the  leaves.  An  effort  should  be  made,  therefore,  to  reach 
the  underside  of  all  leaves,  especially  the  central  ones,  for,  to  be  effec- 
tive, the  spray  must  actually  come  into  contact  with  the  aphis. 

Dusts  containing  nicotine  sulphate  are  being  used  more  and  more 
for  the  control  of  the  cabbage  aphis.  The  dust  can  be  blown  into  and 
about  the  plant  so  that  the  particles  carrying  the  nicotine  sulphate 
come  into  contact  with  every  part.  A  dust  containing  5  per  cent  of 
40  per  cent  nicotine  sulphate  has  been  found  to  give  the  most  satis- 
factory, and  at  the  same  time,  the  most  economical  control.  The 
following  formula  makes  a  good  dust :  95  pounds  of  hydrated  lime 
plus  5  pounds  of  40  per  cent  nicotine  sulphate.  Mixing  should  be 
thorough.  Only  an  amount  sufficient  for  immediate  use  should  be 
made.  Complete  directions  for  the  home  mixing  of  nicotine  sulphate 
dust  is  given  in  Farmers'  Bulletin  1499.  For  cauliflower  plants  less 
than  half  grown,  about  30  pounds  of  dust  for  each  acre  will  be 
required ;  for  more  mature  plants,  about  50  pounds  to  the  acre.  When 
power  dusters  are  used,  long  trailers  should  be  attached  as  shown  in 
figure  19  to  hold  the  dust  close  to  the  ground  and  about  the  plants. 
Factory  made  dusts  can  be  purchased  from  insecticide  dealers. 

It  is  often  advisable  at  the  time  of  transplanting  to  dip  the  plants 
in  a  soap-nicotine  sulphate  solution  to  guard  against  carrying  lice 
into  the  field  from  the  seed  bed.  The  plants  can  be  dipped  and  then 
placed  in  tight  boxes  until  the  time  of  transplanting. 


32 


CALIFORNIA   AGRICULTURAL   EXTENSION    SERVICE 


[ClRC.  11 


As  many  of  the  wild  mustards  and  other  native  crucifers  are  hosts 
to  the  cabbage  aphis,  they  should  be  kept  out  of  the  fields  and  from 
the  roadsides,  fences,  and  other  waste  places. 

Common  Cabbage  Worm. — The  cabbage  worm  is  one  of  the  most 
serious  pests  with  which  the  cauliflower  grower  has  to  contend.  The 
damage  is  done  by  the  larvae,  which  may  consume  entirely  the  suc- 
culent leaves  of  the  young  plant.  When  the  attack  is  severe,  often 
only  a  network  of  veins  is  left  on  the  older  plants.  The  eggs,  which 
are  deposited  singly  on  either  side  of  the  leaf,  are  light  greenish- 
yellow  in  color.  The  mature  larvae  are  l1/^  inches  long  and  a  velvety 
green  in  color,  while  those  overwintering  are  more  of  an  ashen  gray. 


Fig.  19. — Dusting.  The  best  aphis  control  is  obtained  in  the  seed  bed  and 
in  the  field,  when  a  trailer  is  used  behind  the  duster  to  hold  the  dust  near 
the  plants. 


The  adult  is  the  common  white  butterfly,  which  is  often  seen  flying 
over  cabbage  and  cauliflower  fields.  The  color  and  markings  of  the 
adult  female  are  shown  in  figure  20. 

Control  Methods. — Arsenicals  give  the  best  control.  These  can  be 
applied  either  as  a  spray  or  as  a  dust.  The  following  formula  gives 
a  good  liquid  spray :  2  pounds  of  powdered  lead  arsenate,  or  4  pounds 
of  lead  arsenate  paste  to  50  gallons  of  water.  In  order  to  make  the 
spray  adhere  and  spread  out  in  a  thin  film  over  the  leaves,  1  pound 
of  laundry  soap  should  be  added  to  each  50  gallons  of  solution.  The 
time  to  spray  and  the  number  of  applications  to  be  made  depend 


1927] 


CAULIFLOWER   PRODUCTION    IN    CALIFORNIA 


33 


entirely  upon  the  infestation.  Some  of  the  most  serious  infestations 
occur  in  the  seed  beds.  Dusting  with  arsenicals  is  now  being  used 
almost  exclusively  for  the  control  of  the  cabbage  worm.  Dusting  with 
a  mixture  of  1  pound  of  powdered  calcium  arsenate  and  8  to  10  pounds 
of  air-slaked  lime  or  gypsum  gives  excellent  control.  Dusting  should 
start  as  soon  as  the  moths  or  larvae  make  their  appearance.  Some- 
times one  or  two  applications  at  the  proper  time  will  be  sufficient  for 
the  entire  season.  Again,  it  may  be  necessary  to  dust  every  10  days 
or  2  weeks.  The  dust  can  be  applied  with  a  hand  or  power  duster  by 
shaking  through  a  burlap  sack  or  a  tin  can  perforated  at  one  end.  It  is 
best  applied  early  in  the  morning  while  the  dew  is  still  on  the  plants. 


mm  "*'~* 

••■3.™ 

%  ': 

|K:- 

» 

0     JM 

V*--***,  *      ***" 

'""•"i^yM 

■  -             -JH 

w 

*\^# 

■J??m 

- 

Fig.  20. — Female  butterfly  of  the  imported  cabbage  worm  Pontia  rapae   (Linn) 
enlarged  one  and  one-half  times  (after  E.  O.  Essig). 


Arsenical  dusts  or  sprays  must  not  be  used  after  the  head  is  formed, 
for  it  leaves  a  poisonous  residue  on  the  curd,  which,  if  marketed,  may 
be  condemned  and  may  subject  the  grower  to  prosecution  by  the  health 
authorities.  As  the  chrysalids  may  pass  the  winter  on  the  old  cauli- 
flower stumps  and  other  refuse  in  the  field,  the  plants  should  be 
destroyed  and  the  field  plowed  as  soon  as  possible  after  the  crop  has 
been  removed. 

Cabbage  Looper. — The  larva  of  the  cabbage  looper  is  pale  to  dark 
green  in  color.  When  this  insect  is  walking,  the  central  part  of  the 
body  forms  a  loop  or  arch.  Though  somewhat  more  difficult,  control 
may  be  secured  by  the  same  methods  as  that  given  for  the  common 
cabbage  worm. 


34  CALIFORNIA   AGRICULTURAL    EXTENSION    SERVICE  [ClBC.  11 

Larva  of  the  diamond-back  moth  may  also  cause  injury  at  times. 
When  mature,  it  is  about  three-tenths  inch  in  length  and  pale  green 
in  color.  It  is  active  and  very  irritable.  The  control  is  the  same  as 
for  the  green  cabbage  worm. 

Harlequin  Cabbage  Bugs. — The  harlequin  cabbage  bugs  are  shin- 
ing black  or  deep  blue  marked  with  brilliant  orange  or  red.  They 
are  about  one-half  inch  long  and  flattened.  The  eggs  are  laid  in 
double  rows,  usually  about  a  dozen  eggs  being  present  in  one  cluster. 
Both  the  adults  and  young  suck  the  juice  from  the  leaves ;  the  affected 
parts  then  become  yellow,  wither,  and  die. 

Control. — As  it  is  rather  difficult  to  control  these  insects  with  the 
ordinary  contact  insecticides,  preventive  measures  must  be  used.  Very 
good  control  can  be  secured  when  they  first  appear  in  the  field,  by 
dropping  the  adults  into  a  can  of  kerosene.  Since  they  are  very 
sluggish,  they  can  be  caught  with  little  effort.  When  observed,  the 
egg  masses  should  be  picked  and  destroyed  also.  Where  the  insects 
are  abundant,  trap  crops  such  as  kale,  and  other  brassicas,  should 
be  planted  to  precede  the  commercial  crop.  The  insect  can  then  be 
destroyed  by  spraying  with  kerosene.  All  weeds,  especially  those 
belonging  to  the  mustard  family,  should  be  destroyed  throughout  the 
year.  During  the  winter,  they  serve  as  a  source  of  food  and  also 
as  a  means  of  protection  for  this  pest.  The  nymphs  can  be  killed  by 
use  of  a  10  per  cent  kerosene  emulsion,  or  a  whale  oil  soap  solution 
consisting  of  2  pounds  of  soap  to  4  gallons  of  water.  These  sprays 
are  not  effective  against  the  adults. 

Root  Maggot. — It  is  during  the  larval  stage  that  the  root  maggot 
does  its  destructive  work.  The  adult  flies  lay  their  eggs  on  the  stem 
of  the  cauliflower  plant  near  the  surface  of  the  ground  or  on  the  soil 
in  close  proximity  to  the  plant.  The  larvae  are  hatched  within  a  few 
days,  the  length  of  time  required  depending  largely  upon  the  temper- 
ature. The  young  larvae  migrate  to  the  stem  and  to  the  roots  below 
ground  and  there  feed  upon  the  roots,  and  often  burrow  the  entire 
system  below  ground.  The  larvae  or  maggots  are  white  in  color  and 
are  about  one-fourth  inch  in  length  when  full  grown.  If  the  plant 
is  badly  infested,  it  wilts  down  and  in  the  majority  of  cases  does 
not  recover.  When  the  attack  is  light,  about  the  only  evidence  is  the 
slowing  up  in  the  rate  of  growth  of  the  plant. 

As  the  root  maggot  infests  many  of  the  mustard  crops,  such  as 
radishes,  turnips,  cabbage,  it  is  desirable  to  practice  a  rotation  with 
crops  not  related  to  this  group.  The  soil  should  be  plowed  and  well 
cultivated  during  the  late  fall,  winter,  and  early  spring  to  expose  and 


1927 ]  CAULIFLOWER   PRODUCTION    IN    CALIFORNIA  35 

destroy  the  pupae.  In  some  sections,  tarred  paper  disks  have  been 
used  extensively  to  prevent  the  adult  flies  from  depositing  their  eggs 
about  the  plant.  When  these  disks  are  used,  they  should  be  applied 
at  transplanting  time  or  at  least  before  the  flies  start  to  deposit  their 
eggs. 

Corrosive  sublimate  has  been  used  for  some  time  in  England  for 
the  control  of  this  pest  and  within  recent  years  has  come  into  general 
use  in  the  United  States  and  Canada.  The  first  application  must  be 
made  three  or  four  days  after  transplanting ;  the  second  nine  or  ten 
days  after  transplanting ;  and  the  third,  nineteen  or  twenty  days  after 
transplanting.  One  ounce  of  corrosive  sublimate  is  dissolved  in  a  small 
amount  of  hot  water ;  sufficient  water  is  then  added  to  make  10  gallons. 
One-fourth  teacup  of  this  solution  is  poured  about  the  stem  of  each 
plant  at  each  treatment.  Since  this  material  is  corrosive,  it  should  not 
be  mixed  in  metal  containers  but  in  wooden  barrels  or  earthen  con- 
tainers. The  cost  of  each  application  is  eight  to  ten  dollars  an  acre. 
Approximately  200  gallons  an  acre  are  required  for  each  application. 


DISEASES 

Damping-off. — This  is  a  seedling  disease  prevalent  in  the  seed 
bed.  The  common  symptom  is  a  shriveling  of  the  stem  at  the  surface 
of  the  ground.  The  young  plant  then  falls  over  and  dies.  This 
damping-off,  which  may  be  caused  by  a  number  of  different  fungi,  is 
most  prevalent  in  seed  beds  that  are  crowded,  damp,  and  poorly 
ventilated.  To  control  this  disease,  preventive  rather  than  curative 
measures  should  be  used.  New  soil  should  be  used  each  year  for  the 
seed  bed;  if  old  soil  must  be  used,  it  should  first  be  sterilized.  The 
light,  well  drained,  sandy  loam  soils  are  better  than  the  heavier  types. 
The  surface  of  the  bed  should  be  stirred  frequently  to  facilitate  drying 
and  air  circulation  in  the  top  soil.  The  bed  should  be  located  where 
plenty  of  sunlight  and  good  circulation  of  air  are  available.  The 
beds  should  not  be  watered  on  cloudy  days ;  on  bright  days,  they  should 
be  sprinkled  early  in  the  morning.  Frequent  light  waterings  are  less 
desirable  than  thorough  wettings  at  longer  intervals.  Seed  should  be 
sown  in  rows  far  enough  apart  to  allow  a  good  circulation  of  air  about 
the  plants  and  to  permit  the  sun's  rays  to  strike  the  soil.  As  a  rule, 
the  plants  are  subject  to  damping-off  during  their  younger  stages 
only.  Cauliflower  seedlings  seem  to  be  much  more  subject  to  the 
disease  than  cabbage  seedlings. 


36  CALIFORNIA   AGRICULTURAL   EXTENSION    SERVICE  [ClRC.  11 

Brown  Rot.4 — The  brown  rot  of  cauliflower  is  mainly  a  transit 
disease  and  develops  most  rapidly  when  the  temperature  and  humidity 
are  high.  The  disease  causes  a  browning  and  spotting  of  the  head 
which  destroys  its  market  value  when  the  infections  are  numerous 
or  severe.  During  most  seasons,  the  disease  is  not  sufficiently  serious 
to  justify  control  measures  on  the  plants  in  the  field  other  than  seed 
bed  and  field  rotation.  At  the  time  of  packing,  all  the  heads  that 
show  any  brown  or  decayed  spots  should  be  discarded.  Shipment 
should  be  made  in  good  refrigerator  cars  so  that  the  temperature  of 
the  cars  during  transit  can  be  held  at  42°  F.  or  below. 


Acknowledgments 

Many  thanks  are  due  to  the  following  men  for  help  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  this  circular  :  Mr.  J.  N.  Teague,  Arcadia ;  Mr.  D.  L.  Frampton, 
Artesia;  Mr.  R.  G.  Risser,  Production  Manager  of  the  California 
Vegetable  Union,  Los  Angeles;  and  Mr.  Roy  E.  Campbell,  U.S.D.A. 
Bureau  of  Entomology,  Alhambra,  California.  Certain  photographs 
were  obtained  from  the  U.S.D.A.  Bureau  of  Agricultural  Economics, 
for  which  the  authors  are  duly  grateful. 


*  For  more  detailed  discussion  of  brown  rot  of  cauliflower  see  Wehner,  J.  L., 
Jour.  Agr.  Ees.  29:  421-441.     1924. 


(12m) 


